HardLore: Stories from Tour – Episode Summary

Episode Title: HardLore's Favorite Riffs of All Time (With Aaron Osborne)
Release Date: March 6, 2025
Hosts: Colin Young (God's Hate), Bo Lueders (Harms Way)
Special Guest: Aaron Osborne

Introduction

In this electrifying episode of HardLore: Stories from Tour, hosts Colin Young and Bo Lueders welcome the esteemed Aaron Osborne, a pivotal figure in the hardcore, punk, and metal scenes. Together, they embark on a deep dive into the essence of unforgettable guitar riffs, sharing their personal favorites and the stories that make each riff stand out.

Forging Friendships on the Road

The episode kicks off with Colin reminiscing about how he and Bo first connected with Aaron during a grueling European tour, particularly during a memorable stop in Budapest with the band I Hate God. Colin shares, “[03:06] We met you on this insane, brutal, devastating European tour...”, highlighting the intense experiences that solidified their friendship and mutual respect within the HardLore community.

Top 10 Favorite Riffs of All Time

The core of the episode revolves around each host and their guest sharing their top 10 favorite guitar riffs. These selections not only showcase their musical tastes but also highlight the diverse influences that shape their artistry.

Number 10

• Aaron Osborne:
  AC/DC – "Touch Too Much" (from Highway to Hell)
  “[07:14] My number 10 is by a little band from down under called AC/DC, specifically the chorus riff of 'Touch Too Much'. It's a deeper cut.”

• Bo Lueders:
  Terror – "Ringworm" (from Split the Rift / Out of My Face)
  “[09:04] My number 10 favorite riff of all time has a little explanation. It's not solely a riff, but it's the vibe from a little band called Terror.”

• Colin Young:
  Grimlock – "Mountain of Power"
  “[10:02] The riff is the first palm muted guitar I ever heard... It's the reason I'm sitting in this chair.”

Number 9

• Aaron Osborne:
  Electric Wizard – "Return Trip"
  “[12:12] Number nine is from Electric Wizard's 'Return Trip'. There's basically one riff in the song, but it is rock.”

• Bo Lueders:
  AFI – "All Hollow" (from Z P Fall Children)
  “[14:18] Number nine for me is AFI's 'All Hollow'. It's a sick riff and an overture for the EP.”

• Colin Young:
  Pantera – Bridge to "Southern Trendkill"
  “[16:24] Number nine is Pantera's bridge to 'Southern Trendkill'. It's the blues scale made hard.”

Number 8

• Aaron Osborne:
  Queens of the Stone Age – "Super Scooper and Mighty Scoop Penis Music" (from Welcome to Sky Valley)
  “[18:49] Number eight is a riff by Josh from Queens of the Stone Age... 'Super Scooper and Mighty Scoop Penis Music'.”

• Bo Lueders:
  Only Living Witness – "Pro Model Form"
  “[21:05] My number eight is from Only Living Witness with 'Pro Model Form'.”

• Colin Young:
  Candlemass – "Well of Souls"
  “[23:08] My number eight is Candlemass' 'Well of Souls', perfect as a soundcheck riff.”

Number 7

• Aaron Osborne:
  Kiss – "Love Gun"
  “[31:00] Number seven for me is 'Love Gun' by Kiss. It's iconic and psycho to start a song.”

• Bo Lueders:
  Pantera – "Walk"
  “[31:30] Number seven for me is Pantera's 'Walk'.”

• Colin Young:
  Fleetwood Mac – "The Chain" (Bridge Section)
  “[30:40] My number seven is Fleetwood Mac's 'The Chain' bridge.”

Number 6

• Aaron Osborne:
  Judas Priest – "Painkiller" (from Painkiller)
  “[40:10] Number six is 'Painkiller' by Judas Priest, with an insane drum intro.”

• Bo Lueders:
  Bol Thrower – "Kill Chain"
  “[34:30] Number six for me is Bol Thrower's 'Kill Chain'.”

• Colin Young:
  Typo Negative – "World Coming Down" (from Odd Fellows Rest)
  “[36:40] My number six is Typo Negative's 'World Coming Down'.”

Number 5

• Aaron Osborne:
  Black Sabbath – "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" (Intro/Riff to "National Acrobat")
  “[40:15] Number five is Black Sabbath's 'National Acrobat' riff.”

• Bo Lueders:
  Slayer – "Angel of Death"
  “[52:55] Number five is Slayer's 'Angel of Death'.”

• Colin Young:
  Judas Priest – "Painkiller"
  “[40:15] Number five is Judas Priest's 'Painkiller'.”

Number 4

• Aaron Osborne:
  Van Halen – "Hot for Teacher"
  “[54:37] Number four is Van Halen's 'Hot for Teacher'.”

• Bo Lueders:
  Slayer – "Angel of Death"
  “[52:55] Again, number four for me is Slayer's 'Angel of Death'.”

• Colin Young:
  Slayer – "Spill the Blood"
  “[61:45] Number four for me is Slayer's 'Spill the Blood'.”

Number 3

• Aaron Osborne:
  Crowbar – "To Carry the Load" (from Odd Fellows Rest)
  “[82:20] Number three is Crowbar's 'To Carry the Load'.”

• Bo Lueders:
  Crowbar – "To Carry the Load"
  “[82:26] It's my number one favorite riff of all time.”

• Colin Young:
  Crowbar – "To Carry the Load"
  “[82:26] Number one is Crowbar's 'To Carry the Load'.”

Number 2

• Aaron Osborne:
  Corrosion of Conformity – "Albatross" (from Corrosion of Conformity)
  “[64:32] Number two is Corrosion of Conformity's 'Albatross'.”

• Bo Lueders:
  Metallica – "Harvester of Sorrow" (from Worse Than Death)
  “[66:02] Number two for me is Metallica's 'Harvester of Sorrow'.”

• Colin Young:
  Corrosion of Conformity – "Albatross"
  “[64:22] Number two is Corrosion of Conformity's 'Albatross'.”

Number 1

• Aaron Osborne:
  Crowbar – "To Carry the Load" (from Odd Fellows Rest)
  “[82:20] Number one, to me, is Crowbar's 'To Carry the Load'.”

• Bo Lueders:
  Crowbar – "To Carry the Load"
  “[82:10] It's my number one favorite riff of all time.”

• Colin Young:
  Crowbar – "To Carry the Load"
  “[82:26] Number one is Crowbar's 'To Carry the Load'.”

Honorable Mentions

Before settling on their top choices, the hosts and Aaron share several honorable mentions that didn't make the top 10 but are still worthy of recognition.

• Aaron Osborne:
  Mind Snare – "Bulldozed"
  “[73:04] My honorable mention is Mind Snare's 'Bulldozed'.”

• Bo Lueders:
  Van Halen – "Unchained"
  “[74:14] My honorable mention is Van Halen's 'Unchained'.”

• Colin Young:
  Morbid Angel – "Rapture" (from Covenant)
  “[76:37] My honorable mention is Morbid Angel's 'Rapture'.”

Spotlight on Australian Music

The conversation shifts towards celebrating Australian bands, highlighting their influence and the vibrant music scene back home.

• Harm's Way: Currently on tour with hosts, known for their intense performances.

• Terminal Sleep: Direct support on their shows, praised for their talent.

• Bloodmouth: A Canberra-based band with a militant vegan message, combining humor with heavy technical grind.

• Half Man: Briefly mentioned for their standout performance in Brisbane.

• Implode: A new band impressing audiences with their covers of hardcore classics like "Sick People" by Breakdown.

• Than Toothikka: A three-piece from Canberra embracing themes of enlightenment and veganism.

Aaron enthusiastically notes, “[85:05] They wear military fatigues and body armor and balaclavas. They're militant vegan and destroy the carnist industrial complex.”

Conclusion

Wrapping up the episode, Colin and Bo express their deep appreciation for Aaron Osborne's contributions and the shared passion for music that binds them. They hint at future collaborations and invite listeners to stay tuned for upcoming episodes featuring more stories and musical explorations.

Colin concludes, “[93:43] Thank you all for listening. We love you so much, Aaron. You're our favorite guy in the world.”

Notable Quotes

• Colin Young:
  “[03:06] We met you on this insane, brutal, devastating European tour...”

• Aaron Osborne:
  “[07:14] My number 10 is by a little band from down under called AC/DC...”

• Bo Lueders:
  “[73:04] My honorable mention is Mind Snare's 'Bulldozed'.”

• Colin Young:
  “[82:26] Number one is Crowbar's 'To Carry the Load'.”

This episode serves as a testament to the enduring power of great riffs and the stories they inspire. Whether you're a hardcore enthusiast or a casual listener, Colin, Bo, and Aaron offer insights that resonate with every music lover's soul.